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SOEC and Penticton Convention Centre draw record crowds

January 31, 2013

Penticton will be packed with people this weekend as a result of record ticket sales and back-to-back bookings at the SOEC complex.

An estimated 12,000 people will walk through the doors of the South Okanagan Events Centre, the OHS Training Centre and Penticton Trade and Convention Centre between Friday and Sunday, as four large bookings draw crowds of people – with more than half from out of town.

“The South Okanagan Events Centre was built with the vision to enhance Penticton's capacity to host events throughout the year, but especially during the shoulder season. The schedule for this coming weekend is evidence that this strategy continues to work,” said Mayor Dan Ashton. “Concerts, sports tournaments, hockey games and conventions all contribute to the local economy, so we are thrilled to hear how busy Penticton will be this weekend.”

At the SOEC, the Friday night concert for country singer Eric Church is anticipated to be the highest attended concert to date, with more than 5,100 tickets sold as of Thursday. The Penticton Vees are also scheduled to play Saturday night, with an anticipated attendance of just over 2,000. The Okanagan Hockey Academy is hosting a bantam and midget hockey tournament Friday through Sunday for eight teams – four of which are coming from out of town.

At the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, the 18th annual CHBA South Okanagan Home Show will be packed with exhibitors from throughout the valley and those perusing the booths on Saturday and Sunday. Attendance is anticipated to total 5,000 during the two-day trade show.

“Last fall we had four weekends with multiple bookings, and the entire complex was humming. Our staff is very excited about weekends like these, because they get to play a big part in generating economic activity for local businesses during a typically quiet time,” said Dean Clarke, Global Spectrum's General Manager of the South Okanagan Events Centre complex. “We're working really hard to realize the vision for the complex and have a positive impact on our community. There's a lot of pride over here for this weekend.”